Jones and Jadeja - A Last Lucrative Hurrah?

Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes started the rot four to five years ago. A few physical injuries and mental exhaustion took their toll on budding first-class careers so the two Aussies went for the easier and more lucrative route to fame by becoming specialist T20 fast bowlers. Let's be honest, they haven't done too badly. Apart from Australia and his native Netherlands, Nannes has plied his trade for no fewer than eleven top teams around the world, taking 214 wickets in 181 matches over six seasons, compared with 93 in a mere 23 first-class fixtures before that.

Tait, still only 30, did at least have a decent grounding in proper cricket, including three mediocre Tests and 35 ODIs. However, it's now thirty months since he played even a 50-over game, but at least he retired with Sachin Tendulkar his final victim. He has represented nine senior sides in a ten-year career and, with only a few four-over stints, albeit at a fearsome pace, he probably has several more years left in him.

So what about Simon Jones. I did scoff and splutter when reading about his decision to concentate all his efforts on winning contracts for T20 franchises around the world. With no reputation in that form of cricket at all, and living entirely on fans' memories of his mid-2000s England heyday, that did sound mighty optimistic to me. He made no impact in Glamorgan's one-day final this summer and, for all his media appearances and talking the talk, I do wonder why he thinks the Big Bash, IPL etc will come hammering on the door of such an injury-prone bowler, eight years past his prime.

Now even his home county Glamorgan have shut the door in his face, quite rightly preferring to place their hopes and slender cash reserves on young talent. Jones commented that he would have to seek employment 'over the bridge', presumably meaning the Severn crossing. However, unless he has relatively low expectations, pay-wise I can't see many counties fighting for his services. Perhaps he can prove me wrong but it would be a gamble for any side.

Over in India, Ajay Jadeja has made a comeback at 42, nearly seven years after his final first-class appearance for Rajasthan. It wasn't a senior game, but a Buchi Babu tournament one-dayer for Haryana. Nevertheless, as one of India's top 50-over batsmen of the 1990s before involvement in match-fixing cost him dear, eyebrows are being raised. Is he just helping out a former side, mentoring the youngsters or actually testing the waters for a Warne-like comeback payday? I'm probably too much of a cynic by steering towards the latter. After all, if Tendulkar finds his powers waning at 40, what hope does his former team-mate Jadeja have?

In the end, it's a commercial world and if someone has the cash and nerve to make an eye-catching big-name signing in Jadeja, then I don't blame him for trying. As for Simon Jones, I wish he had simply bowed to the inevitable and made a dignified exit from the senior cricket field and used his experience to benefit youngsters as a coach. I'm sure he'd make a great one.

The Outlaws Steal the Show!

After all that, the combined might of Nottinghamshire's all-star XI provged too much for Glamorgan in the YB40 Final. It was a shame, too, that Lord's was far from being sold out but as soon as it was announced that Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann weer to be released by England, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Welsh side to come out on top. Nevertheless, they reached the final on merit and in a single 40-over match, nothing is impossible.

The floodlights were on for a gloomy day in St John's Wood, and after Glamorgan inserted the Outlaws, the England T20 openers set a good pace, with Michael Lumb leading the way with three fours and a six. However, both he and Alex Hales fell in successive overs, then James Taylor and Samit Patel struggled as Simon Jones, in his last season of proper cricket with Glamorgan, and Andrew Salter in his second, exerted some pressure. David Hussey and captain Chris Read have disappointed this season, one reason while Notts are in Championship trouble. However, they rescued their side's innings with a 99 partnership. Swann and Mullaney biffed some late boundaries off Wagg and Hogan to set a stiff target of 245.

When the Welsh came out to bat, Broad and Gurney induced a lot of playing and missing from the word go. Mark Wallace miscued for 2, but Rees rode his luck to make 29. Danger men Chris Cooke, one of the highest scorers in this year's tournament, and consistent all-rounder James Allenby steadied the ship and kept the Glammies' hopes high. Enter Samit Patel. Miffed at his treatment by England selectors, he showed his talent as left-arm spinner by bamboozling both batsmen with prodigious turn, clipping both off-stumps. Murray Goodwin made little impression and when he went, a long tail was exposed. Shahzad, Patel and, in the 33rd over, easily cut it to pieces. Simon Jones, given a generous standing ovation by all sets of fans and the Notts players, was left high and dry on 0 while the Notts fielders went berserk around him.

As I wrote yesterday, this was their first one-day title for more than 20 years, and they relished the success. And so they should. Their side boasted five current and two recent England internationals plus Hussey. Their opponents featured just two, and Jones last played for England in 2005, Goodwin for Zimbabwe in 2000! Taylor and Patel each aggregated more than 500 runs in the competition, although well behind Peter Trego and Michael Klinger. The final featured the top wicket-takers in Michael Hogan and Ajmal Shahzad, while the Outlaws Gurney and Mullaney also enjoyed a solid summer of 40-over cricket. Jake Ball claimed 19 wickets in twelve games and could be forgiven for feeling pissed off at being dropped for the big occasion in favour of glory boy Broad. Hopefully he'll get another opportunity. Patel may be the Friar Tuck amongst Read's Merrye bande of Outlaws but he deserved the Man of the Match award!

And so the domestic one-day season came to a bit of a damp-squib climax. 40-over cricket has once again been consigned to the commercial dustbin, and a two-division 50-over format takes over in 2014. I hope next year's final gets the crowds the occasion deserves. IN the mean time, well done to Nottinghamshire but I'm cheering on Somerset against them in next week's Championship relegation showdown!

Two and A Half Retirements

This week, three loyal servants to domestic cricket announced their retirements. Mike Powell was one of Glamorgan's best batsmen for a decade or so, securing a regular opener's spot after Hugh Morris hung up his boots before proceeding to notch more than 10,000 runs for the county. His 299 made in 2006 remains the second highest individual innings for Glamorgan. Like many batsmen, he had a few injury problems but after rib surgery a blood clot not only threatened his career but also his life. He bounced back but his county dropped him in 2011 only for Kent to pick him up. He wasn't an ever-present in 2012 but nevertheless averaged 40-odd. This summer, despite Kent languishing near the foot of Division Two, Powell has been relegated to the Seconds so maybe his decision to call it a day at 36 is no surprise.

Matthew Hoggard's retirement has received more coverage, thanks to his record for England and in particular his contribution to the 2005 Ashes triumph. Just a month older than Powell, Hoggy was an archetypal burly, chest-on swing merchant who took more than 1000 wickets in senior cricket, 280 of them for his country. Along with Darren Gough and Craig White, he formed part of an excellent trio of Yorkshire quicks who also represented England with distinction. Like Powell, he left his home county in the past few years, skippering Leicestershire to T20 glory in 2011 but making little impression this year as the county has bumped along the bottom of the Championship. Will a career in awful celebrity shows beckon? A Strictly Come Dancing stint, perhaps? I'd rather think he could do a more useful job in cricket coaching!

The other announcement wasn't of a complete departure from cricket, although Simon Jones' self-advert as a world-class T20 specialist looks a trifle optimistic. One of the top fast bowlers in the mid-2000s, a horrendous sequence of injuries wrecked his international career just as it was becoming a great one. Indeed, Trent Bridge 2005 was to witness the last of his 18 Tests. In that game he took 5-44 then bowled only four overs in the Aussies' second innings. That was that. The man from Morriston, Swansea attempted more comebacks than Sinatra, for various brave counties, but continued to break down. Watching Glamorgan win their YB40 semi-final last week was quite exhilarating but slightly sad when watching Jones amble in for a few uninspiring overs. The Jones of old would have been called upon to deliver the final balls to finish off Hampshire but the 2013 vintage was not risked.

Simon Jones' last Test was also the first played by Shaun Tait who is perhaps the best known T20 mercenary. He has 109 matches under his belt and 143 wickets captured around the world, from Big Bash and FL to IPL. The Welshman has played a mere 35 in the last decade, claiming only 43 victims. I can see the appeal of raking in the dollars and bowling a mximum of four overs every now and again. However, what franchise would come a-calling for an injury-prone bowler eight years past his best? Let's just remember him in his prime, tearing into one of the best batting line-ups of the past thirty years alongside Flintoff, Hoggard and Harmison.

Speaking of which, Ashington's finest hasn't exactly enjoyed a successful benefit season on the pitch. Like Jones, he went from hero to zero quickly, although that notorious super-wide Down Under did for him rather than a bad knee. Harmison remained with Durham in the lean times before venturing across the border to Yorkshire. This year, he made the return journey but his appearances have been restricted to a handful of 2nd XI games. Can the big man's departure be far away That really would close the chapter on England's great Ashes bowling quartet.

Christmas Cricketers

December 25th. It’s the Big Birthday, right? Curiously it’s also the birthday of three of England’s finest cricketers from the past decade. I’d say the Three Wise Men only they didn’t turn up for another twelve days. Alastair Cook, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones may not bring gold, frankincense and myrrh but in recent years have served up a large helping of grit, sparkle and pace.

Cook, of course, is very much the man of the moment. Leading England from the front to a memorable Test series victory in India is about as good as it gets. Ah, but you have to win the Ashes in Australia to be recognised as a true modern great. Tick! 766 runs at an average of 128 two winters ago says yes. Hmm, but does he make some really big scores? In evidence I offer the 294 scored against India at Edgbaston last year. Flat track bully? What, with 190 at Eden Gardens, India’s spin fortress, and five of his six highest Test innings have been achieved on tour.

Cook may be associated with Essex but he was born in Gloucester. Nine years earlier, just down the M5 and along the A4, Marcus Trescothick emerged into this world, Another left-hander, he started as a wicketkeeper but quickly concentrated on becoming one of the finest strokeplayers of his generation. A Somerset stalwart of almost twenty seasons, his mental illness may have deprived England of its best opening batsman, but he has continued to grace the county scene, excelling in all forms of cricket. He’s astute and articulate in the commentary box, too, especially when analysing one-day and T20 tactics. I just hope Banger’s serious ankle injury last summer isn’t a sign of failing form. Somerset would surely have secured an elusive title had he been around in the middle of the season.

The other member of the festive trio is Simon Jones. His list of sick notes would take up far more space than Trescothick’s but, approaching his 34th birthday, the man from Morriston near Swansea still harbours hopes of playing first-class cricket with Glamorgan next summer. He proved a revelation in 2004-6, including the 2005 Ashes, but subsequent knee injuries have severely restricted his appearances in any form of the game. A total of only 91 FC fixtures and 88 shorter matches in fifteen years tells the story. The Ashes victory at Trent Bridge proved to be his last in an England cap. Following a decisive first-innings 5-44, Jones broke down after bowling only four overs in the second, and that was that. He looked a shadow of his old sharp self in one-day games last year but he is clinging on to a career I thought had ended several years earlier. Good for him!

Cricket tends not to be played on Christmas Day itself but Cook did make a century three days later in an innings defeat of South Africa in 2009. Marcus Trescothick did the same five years earlier, and Jones took a wicket on the 27th, that of AB de Villiers, in that very same match. This year, I reckon all three have earned their right to putting their feet up at home for Christmas. Please, Marcus, don’t drop any turkeys on that ankle of yours!